On the Strength of My Own Determination

While I was at the AMTA conference in September, I introduced myself to each publisher that was there. I explained my business book and talked to them about whether it was something they would be interested in.

Most of them focus on textbooks and I don't really envision this as a textbook. Lippincott Wilkins and Williams (the biggest publisher in our biz) were at least intrigued. I got a biz card and said I'd follow up when I got back to Brisbane.

Which I did. And heard back on Friday that they are unlikely to be interested in the book. They feel they already have enough "massage business" books.

sigh

I'm glad she responded. She encouraged me to keep writing, if for no other reason than because I clearly believe so strongly in the book. And I will. I do believe in this book and I really want to write it.

I'll focus on self-publishing now (once I figure out how that actually works). I don't know that this book will ever be a best-seller, even in our small industry. But I still believe it has value. I still believe it's unique. And I'll keep writing.

Size Matters

Since I live in the heart of "downtown" Brisbane (the CBD), there are frequently people on the sidewalks handing me flyers, free newspapers, coupons, that sort of thing. On Fridy night, there were two young women in traditional Japanese costume handing out business cards for a hair salon / fashion boutique.

I was stunned when I finally looked at it to see how much information they had crammed into a 2 inch x 3 inch space!

When I taught business practices at PMTI, we talked about business cards as part of marketing. They are generally inexpensive to produce so there's no good reason not to have one. We spent a good bit of time in class talking about the practical challenges of a business card.

From my perspective, a business card exists to let a person know (1) who you are, (2) what you do, and (3) how to reach you. You can include a few other things but the challenge is normally to resist the urge to put everything about yourself on your card. It's not a resume. It's not an autobiography. It won't sell people on your practice by its lil' ol' self.

There needs to be enough on it to remind someone why they have it in their wallet when they pull it out again in 2, 4, or 15 weeks. Its design conveys, subtly, a general feel for your practice but you can't even take that too seiously. From my perspective, its purpose is to transmit basic data and facilitate contact.

From my perspective, the biggest mistake you can make with a business card is to not have one. (On you, at all times. In the immortal words of Kitty Southworth LMT "I will leave home without my underwear before I leave home without my business cards!")

But, yowsa!, the Ryota salon seems to have not gotten the message that "less is more". And there was more on the back of the card!

In contrast, I've laid their card next to a card I picked up at the recent AMTA conference from a publishers' rep.

When I pull either of these cards out of my wallet, I'll remember why I have them. But I won't get an eyestrain headache trying to contact the publishers' rep!

I think the salon would have been much better served with a 4x6 or 5x7 postcard (or maybe even better served with a simple brochure). Then they wouldn't have had to resort to 2 pt type.

Yet, everything I need to know is on there, including the name of the salon mascot, Lolly the dog. But at what price? This is a full color (though not glossy) card with 9 photographs! Not cheap.

I won't rule out cultural differences either. Perhaps there is a segment of Japanese culture where this kind of card is both common and expected. Except, of course, they're not handing these out in Japan. They're handing them out in Brisbane where business cards tend to look just like they do in the US.

Are they wrong to use this business card? Well, they certainly got my attention and I will remember them. But mostly I will remember it as an irritant and an example of what I wouldn't recommend.

When I Grow Up, I Want To Be....

Jeff and I have talked about the odds and practicality of extending our time here in Australia. We may have that option but if we do, I will need to find work I suspect.

I could look for massage work in a spa or group practice. Since I don't have a client base (or even my massage table and supplies) it's impractical to try to establish my own practice.

I could go back to my previous life and work as a writer, especially a technical writer. Though the software used to write technical manuals has changed in the last 10 years I'm sure and I haven't kept up.

What I find myself thinking about though is temp or retail work (though God help my sacrum if I have to be on my feet all day!). Something simple. Something without assumption of commitment or long-term relationships.

Something I can walk in and out of without much guilt or personal investment.

I don't feel the need to flex my well-developed professional muscles, either as a writer or an MT. I can be in it just for the paycheck and some co-workers.

I'm enjoying the simple and relatively unattached life here in Brisbane. There's a peacefulness to it that I'm coming to appreciate.

More On Touching Strangers

Compliments of NPR.

Touching Strangers: A Creepily Wonderful Concept

Touching Professionally and Non-Professionally

While I'm here in Brisbane, I'm taking the chance to meet some locals through an organization called CouchSurfing that I'm active in at home in DC. This morning I had tea with a beautiful young woman, Erica Field, who's a performance artist.

One of her favorite shows to take part in is called "Six Women In Front Of A White Wall" by the Little Dove Theater (she's on the far left in this pic). The premise is, as the name implies, 6 women stand in front of a white wall on stands, "acting out" somewhat in the Japanese Butoh tradition. The audience is invited to come up and touch the women. The women react honestly to the touch.

Erica talked about the profound nature of putting yourself up to be touched by strangers and the challenge of responding honestly. She talked about the profound things she has seen from audience members when they are invited to touch strangers but knowing that they will respond honestly to how they feel about the touch.

Of course, we talked about the intersection of that performance experience and the massage therapy experience. Vulnerability. Honesty. Touch. The necessity of being totally present to the experience.

I had a flash that it would be fascinating to have that performance performed at, say, an AMTA convention. How different would it be when the audience touches strangers every day (naked strangers to boot!)?

How different would it be for us to touch strangers with intention but not in our official roles as massage therapists? The balance of power shifts. While the audience is the one that decides whether or not to touch, the performers "control" the space by being the ones who initiated the experience and are the ones who will have the freedom to react honestly and immediately (something our clients don't always do). They're the "pros" in this setting, where we're the "pros" when we touch in session.

What happens when someone else is creating and has final control over the touch experience? Can we just....touch? Could we touch without the overwhelming urge to rub, to massage?

I hope I get a chance to see this performance some day. I imagine I will be one of the ones who want to touch but how will the performer respond to my non-professional touch? I hope I get to find out.

My Australian Office

Behind the couch, tucked between the kitchen and the TV. :)

When I Grow Up, I Want To Be...

After 10 years in any profession, it's a good idea to step back and give some thought to what you want out of the next 10 years. Otherwise, you are a prime candidate for burnout, even if you love your work. You don't need to switch careers but you do need to shake things up.

(Truth in advertising: I wrote a whole column on this for the DC chapter of the AMTA, so I'm sort of stealing my own lead!)

When Jeff and I decided to come to Australia, we decided I would use this time to write a book (or 3) I've had in my head. I'm also using this time to see what bubbles up for my practice. What new directions do I want to take? What leaps of the imagination might actually be possible?

It changes every week. An idea will just grab my brain with both hands and shake it while saying "we could do XYZ!!!" Last week, I was all caught up in the idea of renting a large-ish space and inviting other bodyworkers and allied professionals to rent space from me. Create the multi-speciality practice I've fantasized working in but do it as a landlord.

I spent a lot of time thinking about the logistics of that last week. Where would I find such a space? Should I rent or (gulp) buy? What would it take to get that kind of financing?? What part of the city? What would I be looking for in practitioners? How would I find them?

This week, that idea doesn't excite my brain as much. Today I find myself focusing on the "service" part of my practice, specifically the "pay what you can" policy I have. Where are the people who need and want massage and really can't afford it? What is a massively under-served community?

In DC, I live on the eastern end of Capitol Hill (over by RFK Stadium). Can I help bring massage and its healing to ward 7 and 8, even with my oh-so-white face? Would I be better off partnering with someone who's already working in ward 7/8? What about my existing, loyal, and loving clients who would find ward 7/8 waaaaaaaay the hell outside their comfort zone?

Next week....who knows? It's all part of my deeper psyche exercising it's imagining and envisioning muscles. Stay tuned. :)